Adventist church protests against violence
Pastor Leslie Garbutt
The brutal murder of Teddy Murillo on February twenty-seventh continues to stir emotions. The University of Belize student was gunned down on Waight Street as he headed home. There are allegations that he was killed by a cop and up until tonight no charges have been laid. Murillo was a deacon with the Adventist Church and this Friday will be an extended weekend for students attending any of the Adventist schools throughout Belize. Their Administration has decided to close shop to signal their displeasure over the senseless murder. When she visited a few of the Belize City based Adventist institutions today, Marion Ali discovered that the unusual decision was prompted by a pressing issue that has been plaguing our nation.
Marion Ali
“Whether it’s the one hundred and twenty-two students who make up Ephesus Seventh Day Adventist, the two hundred and fifteen at Canaan High or the two hundred and fifty-three here at James Garbutt, the Seventh Day Adventist Mission has one message – stop the crime and violence. So tomorrow they will be sending that message by closing all their twenty-five schools countrywide.”
Pastor Leslie Gillett, Education Director, Belize Adventist Mission
“We have been following very closely over the past couple months the situation of crime in Belize and of course the killing of young people especially.”
But the determining factor in the final decision was the weekend killing of Teddy Murillo Jr.
Pastor Leslie Gillett
“Teddy Murrillo was a student at our primary school. He later went on to our high school and he was an active deacon in our church. He was also involved in all our youth programmes, activities and organizations that we have. Just a few weeks ago there was a prayer walk and Teddy was there. So we believe that definitely something needs to be done.”
Sandra Carr, Principal, James Garbutt Seventh Day Primary
Sandra Carr
“We believe that his life was taken away from us untimely and the way how it happened we do not really appreciate and we are trying to send a message that this type of thing would stop.”
But what will not stop for anyone this long weekend is work.
Marva Bennett Awardo, Principal, Ephesus Seven Day Adventist
“We still have things to do but in support of everybody we’re holding one hand then we’re doing it.”
Marion Ali
“The school will be giving them extra homework?”
Sandra Carr
“Yes, we’re copying work right now for them to take home with them.”
Pastor Leslie Gillett
“Our people are praying that justice will be done, parents and teachers and others will be calling in to make their positions known and so we believe it will call the attention of the nation to the situation.”
Whether or not it does call the attention of those who engage in violence will only be detected in the coming weeks and months. Marion Ali for News Five.
I totally agree and congratulate the Adventists for standing up against the thugs and the corrupt in the Jewel. Who will stand up and be heard in Belize?
Congratulations Brethren!
More organizations should join with the Adventist church in the very brave endeavor. Nobody is happy with what’s going on but far from enough is being done.
My condolences to the family of Teddy Murillo. Your Adventist family in the U.S. are keeping you in their prayers that the Lord may give you strength to bear this tragedy and that Teddy’s life will not have been lost in vain. The saddest part of this story is that the allegation is that a police office committed this crime. It would have been bad enough had it been a gang member. The people of Belize should be able to trust their law enforcement officers to protect them, not kill them. The gangs are doing enough killing. Belize is too small for this because we are all one family. Belizeans please remember these texts: John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 2 Thessalonians 3:16 Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all. Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
Im so tired of hearing about murders ib Belize, I feel that if the Belizean Government cannot control whats happening its time to seek help from another country and its deffinately time to renew the grounds of the “Death Penalty”we cant wait for God top fix everything thats why he gave us a brain, so we can come up with some of our own solutions.
i am proud of my church family to stand up for teddy and his family my condolences the family
WOW! WHAT CAN I SAY? THE SITUATION IS SAD AND A DIRE ONE INDEED. I WANT TO CRY EACH TIME I GO ONLINE AND READ STORIES ABOUT THE CORRUPTION, MURDERS AND TOTAL DEPRAVATION OF MY BELOVED BELIZE.
I STILL KNOW THAT ONLY A RADICAL SPIRITUAL TURN-AROUND CAN SAVE OUR COUNTRY, AND WISH THAT MY FELLOW BELIZEANS WOULD REALIZE THIS AND TURN THEIR EYES TO GOD WHO ALONE CAN SAVE US. I AM OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER HOW OUR FIRST PRIME MINSTER, THE HONORABLE MR. PRICE WAS TOTALLY AGAINST BELIZE GETTING TELEVISION, AND MANY THOUGHT HIM STUPID AND “BACKWARD” AT THE TIME. NOW WE SEE THE EVILS WE HAVE REAPED WHICH CAN BE LARGELY ATTRIBUTED TO OUR YOUNG PEOPLE—AND SOME OLD ONES, TRYING TO IMITATE THE AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE—-ALL THE NEGATIVE ASPECTS THEREOF—-GANGS, DRUGS, MATERIALISM, SEX, VIOLENCE AND EVERY KIND OF EVIL…..THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE REAPED AS A RESULT—-SOWN THE WIND AND REAPED THE WHIRLWIND. MAY GOD HELP US!!! MAY WE DRAW NIGH TO HIM SO THAT HE WILL DRAW NIGH TO US, ‘CAUSE HE CERTAINLY WILL NOT FORCE HIS WAY IN.